Heat off mound cools batters

By Jamie Harkins

July 21, 2017 3:55 PM

Pirates shortstop Jaydon Gartner turns on a pitch by Athletics starter Jared Gudereit during the bottom of the fourth inning of Lloydminster’s 2-1 loss to Regina at Wallace Field on Saturday. Jamie Harkins/Meridian Booster

The Northwest midget AAA Prairie Pirates and Regina Athletics engaged in a pitchers’ duel at Wallace Field on Saturday.

Gudereit only gave up three hits and one earned run through seven innings of ball, while Olson pitched a two-hitter with the sole run against coming off a sixth-inning drive to centre field by Athletics second baseman Payton Jerome, that scored baserunner Dryden Blaus from second.

“It’s nice getting in a little competition with the other pitcher,” said Olson. “It keeps you in the game a little bit more.”

The top of the sixth inning found Olson battling a one-out bases loaded situation, shortly after the Athletics reached home, but a misplaced Adam Decorby bunt resulting in an inning-ending double play got the starter out of the jam. An inning-and-a-half later, Gudereit faced two men on with one out, before Dylan Bosch slapped a ground ball base hit to left field that scored Cubbon and forced extra innings.

The Athletics pitcher was holding a no-hitter until Cubbon crushed a drive to left field to open the frame.

“I was just locating my fastballs and working the off speed when I can,” said Gudereit.

“There were a few times (during the game) when I went down 3-1 that I had to deal a strike in there and hope they didn’t hit one.”

Blaus got Regina off to a quick start in the top of the eighth by running out a grounder to second base with Jerome plating him two batters later on a double to left field, that fell just inside the foul line.

Athletics closer Brandon Logan went one-two-three in the bottom of the inning to finish the game.

Gudereit said their 2-1 win closely resembled the 2-1 loss they suffered in the opening match of the doubleheader. He said both games featured good defence, strong pitching and a tough time towards getting anything going in the batters box.

The doubleheader marked the final home stand of the year for the Pirates (8-22).

As a bottom-three club in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League, the team has been regulated to the Saskatchewan Baseball midget AA Championships that will be played in Swift Current this weekend.

“We’ll get ready the same way we would any game,” said Olson. “We’re going in there with an attitude that we can beat any team there, and hopefully we’ll play some good ball.”

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